Health, medicine & scientific discovery

Carolina students, faculty and physicians continuously work to discover scientific breakthroughs that will help advance medicine and better individual and community-wide health.

person receiving blood pressure reading
Greg Scherrer and five members of his lab pose in his lab

Developing non-addictive pain meds

A quarter of the way into the 21st century, the United States finds itself in the grip of two intertwined epidemics: chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Greg Scherrer, professor at the UNC School of Medicine is tackling both epidemics by developing an entirely new class of therapeutics that relieves pain but is not addictive. 

Your support in action

Portrait of Kristy Ainslie leaning against a whiteboard bordered by blue and white argyle pattern.

Ask a Professor: Kristy Ainslie on a new type of vaccine

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy professor discusses her lab’s work on an inverse vaccine to treat autoimmune diseases.

A close-up view of Stephen Eckel holding his IV dosing device

Donor funding bridges innovation ‘valley of death’

Strategic giving is critical in helping Carolina researchers translate their research into real-world solutions.

Three people pose and smile in a lab.

Eyes on the brain

Carolina researchers use smart glasses to peer into the mind.

Support health, medicine & scientific discovery initiatives

Supporting health, medicine and discovery initiatives at Carolina means equipping scholars with the necessary tools to understand and get ahead of tomorrow’s health challenges.

Innovate Carolina Student Engagement

Supports students pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors including internships at startups, the 1789 club, micro-grants, pitch competitions and more.

Public Health Foundation

Provides support for student and faculty needs schoolwide.

Health Behavior

Provides support to the department to design and evaluate interventions that help individuals and communities adopt healthier behaviors and reduce health disparities.

The United States Military Veterans Dental Scholarship Fund

Provides scholarship support for DDS and Dental Hygiene students who are veterans of the United States military (Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy or Coast Guard) in the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. DDS and DH students who are the dependents of US military veterans would also be eligible for selection based on academic performance and financial need.

Contact us

Have questions or want to explore how your giving can make the greatest impact? We welcome the opportunity to connect and learn more about what inspires you. Reach out to start a conversation about your philanthropic goals and how you can support health, medicine and scientific discovery initiatives.